Why do you have to know exactly where you came from?

**spaceoddity** · 03-16-2011, 05:49 PM

If you found out you were Nigerian would that mean you were suddenly going to adhere to Nigerian culture and everything? I mean you could, but you also don't have to. Just live your life and create your own culture. I'm 100% Cameroonian, but I don't feel like that's my only culture, and I'm restricted to it or anything. You can experience the great parts of many cultures. Don't feel like just because it's not in your "ancestry", you can't take part in other things. You have the whole world to enjoy. Don't get hung up in the past, and about being "certain" about everything

**G.Eve** · 03-16-2011, 05:53 PM

Well Said. I am me............moving on....

**Princess Pamplemousse** · 03-17-2011, 03:43 AM

I love my past. Without it, I wouldn't have a present. And yes, I love my past, my culture in particular. Above all others. That doesn't mean that I can't appreciate and enjoy other cultures and histories, but if I had a culture swapper machine, I'd stick with mine every time

That said, I assume you're piggy-backing off of recent posts dealing with black Americans and some "lack" of culture...an alienation from where they come from. If so, I have to say that as a black American, I know exactly where my people come from. America by way of the Middle Passage. I think the trials they went through were sufficient to qualify as culture making.

So basically, I have to know (and do know) where I come from so I can know how I got to where I am today. And what went into making it possible for me to continue moving forward.

**Stargazer2893** · 03-17-2011, 10:26 AM

Just part of our (humans) natural curiosity...that's why we've traced our MtDNA all the way back to Mitochondrial Eve...it's just fascinating, I guess. That being said, I'll have my DNA traced/mapped as soon as I win the lotto! lol

**spaceoddity** · 03-17-2011, 02:07 PM

I'm saying this cause some people seem so hung up about getting their ancestry totally right, but I don't think that's what's really important. if my ancestry comes from other places, how does it really change me? i guess i'm very anti-traditional. my culture is cool and all but i like other cultures as well.. so i'll incorporate what i like into the way i live. there is no "ultimate culture". of course a lot of people think the way they live is the shit

**Princess Pamplemousse** · 03-17-2011, 02:50 PM

Well do you boo lol. No one's going to strap you down amd force you to be traditional or find your ancestors. We can all be cool appreciating what we want to appreciate.

**Denny** · 04-06-2011, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Well do you boo lol. No one's going to strap you down amd force you to be traditional or find your ancestors. We can all be cool appreciating what we want to appreciate.

Exactly! Ignorance is not always bliss.....

**Ms-gg** · 03-17-2011, 10:00 PM

Oh okay....I want to know where I came from so I can feel complete as a person. Of course I was born in America, but my ancestors were from some place else. You only live once and I would like to know where my peoples came from *yeezy shrug*

**Veviticus** · 03-17-2011, 11:57 PM

I did a very extensive research on who my ancestors were, not to find out who I am....I already know who I am, but it was information that was very interesting to know.

The experience of finding pictures, and all types of county, service, records, birth certificates, etc., was very revealing and confirmed alot of things that I had questions about.

**NubianPrize** · 07-09-2013, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by Ms-gg

Oh okay....I want to know where I came from so I can feel complete as a person. Of course I was born in America, but my ancestors were from some place else. You only live once and I would like to know where my peoples came from *yeezy shrug*

I just sent in my DNA sample to Ancestry.com. It's only $99 instead of those triple digit ones. Why am I doing this? Because I'm CURIOUS. Still the same me, just gives me more info about my background